Tide pooling in New Hampshire: best low tides
The best tide pool days are low tides that are among a spot's lowest of the year and fall in daylight. In New Hampshire they come mostly in June to August. The next stretch of tide pool lows across the state is Nov 23. Dates, times and heights below come from NOAA predictions for 9 spots, worked out for the next 12 months.
Tide pools in every state · New Hampshire king tides
Tide pool season in New Hampshire
Average number of good tide pool days per spot, month by month:
Best tide pool days statewide
| Dates | Best day | Spots with a good low that day |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 23 | Mon Nov 23 | 6 of 9 spots |
| Dec 22 | Tue Dec 22 | 6 of 9 spots |
| Jan 21 | Thu Jan 21 | 6 of 9 spots |
| Feb 19–20 | Fri Feb 19 | 7 of 9 spots |
| Feb 23–24 | Wed Feb 24 | 6 of 9 spots |
| Mar 21–25 | Thu Mar 25 | 9 of 9 spots |
| Apr 21–22 | Thu Apr 22 | 6 of 9 spots |
| May 7–9 | Sat May 8 | 9 of 9 spots |
Favorite tide pools in New Hampshire
| Tide pools | Next good low tides | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Odiorne Point, Rye Tides: Jaffrey Point, 1 mi | Oct 26 then Nov 23, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:41 PM |
Tide pool lows for your spot
Showing all 9 spots
| Spot | Next tide pool lows | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Gosport Harbor, Isles of Shoals | Oct 26 afternoon then Nov 23, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:44 PM 4 good days in the next 3 months |
| Jaffrey Point | Oct 26 afternoon then Nov 23, Dec 22–23 | -0.9 ft Mon Oct 26, 5:41 PM 4 good days in the next 3 months |
| Atlantic Heights | Nov 23 afternoon then Dec 22, Jan 21 | -0.7 ft Mon Nov 23, 4:03 PM 2 good days in the next 3 months |
| Fort Point | Nov 23 afternoon then Dec 22, Jan 21 | -0.8 ft Mon Nov 23, 3:42 PM 2 good days in the next 3 months |
| Hampton Harbor | Nov 23 afternoon then Dec 22, Jan 21 | -0.8 ft Mon Nov 23, 4:07 PM 2 good days in the next 3 months |
| Portsmouth | Nov 23 afternoon then Dec 22, Jan 21 | -0.8 ft Mon Nov 23, 3:52 PM 2 good days in the next 3 months |
| Squamscott River RR. Bridge | Jan 24–25 mornings then Feb 22–24, Mar 22–25 | -0.7 ft Sun Jan 24, 8:31 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Dover Point | Jan 25 morning then Feb 19, Feb 23–24 | -0.7 ft Mon Jan 25, 8:11 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
| Dover, Cocheco River | Feb 23–24 mornings then Mar 23–25, Apr 21 | -0.5 ft Tue Feb 23, 8:03 AM 0 good days in the next 3 months |
Tide pool tips
Arrive about an hour before low tide and head back as soon as the water turns.
Sneaker waves run far up rocky shores, especially on the Pacific. Never turn your back on the ocean.
Seaweed and barnacles are slippery and alive. Wear shoes with grip and step on bare rock or sand.
Touch gently with a wet finger, put rocks back as you found them, and leave animals and shells. Many tide pools are protected.
How these dates are worked out
For every spot we take NOAA's low tide predictions for the next 12 months. A low counts as a tide pool low when it's in that spot's lowest 10% and comes between an hour after sunrise and sunset, so there's light for the hour before it. Heights are feet above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero on tide charts; below zero is a minus tide. Wind and swell can keep the water higher than predicted. Not for navigation.